Ahead of a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the European Union (EU) warned that "Russia is an unreliable country."
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated at a press conference after the meeting of foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries held in Brussels, Belgium on the 17th (local time), "There was a consensus at today's meeting that Russia cannot be truly trusted."
High Representative Kallas criticized Russia for not immediately accepting the '30-day ceasefire plan' agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine, saying, "Russia will use this as an opportunity to present all kinds of demands," and pointed out, "Russia has already put forward its demands."
Other countries attending the meeting also expressed concerns. Elina Valtonen, Finland's Foreign Minister, emphasized, "President Trump's efforts to achieve peace must not be exploited by Putin to make Ukraine more vulnerable and to justify another invasion in the near future."
This criticism from the EU toward Russia appears to reflect concerns that President Trump, who announced he would speak with President Putin on the 18th, might accept demands unfavorable to Ukraine.
Russia has not agreed to the '30-day ceasefire plan' agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine on the 11th. At a press conference on the 13th, President Putin expressed concerns about Western arms support during the ceasefire period, Ukraine's mobilization order, and military exercises, stating, "A ceasefire of at least 30 days is a proposal very favorable to Ukraine."
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